Pick-up device for screws and the like



y 1932' F. H. DELLAREE PICK-UP DEVICE FOR SCREWS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 9, 1926 ATTORNEYS Patented July 12, 1932 FRANK H. DELLAREE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN PICK-UP DEVICE FOR sonnws Ann THE LIKE Driglnal application filed January 9, 1928, Serial No. 80,184. Patent No. 1,813,697. Divided and this application filed July i', 1830. Serial No. 466,127. i

The present invention pertiiins to a novel pick-up device for screws and other headed members similar to that disclosed in my [copending application, Serial No. 80,184, filed January 9, 1926, of which this application is a division.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character adapted to gather) a (uantity of screws from a hopper in a disor erly or intermingled condition and to deliver them in an aligned condition to a. track orchute from which they are passed to a power screw driver. Although devices having-these general functions are known, the present invention aims to provide such a device capable of high speed operation and such regularity of performance as to avoid interruption of the high speed screw drivin machine associated with the device.

Generally, the device ofthe invention comprises a pair of spaced plates rotating with a common shaft in a fixed hopper. The outer edges of the platesform a track in the nature of a 'scroll or non-planar spiral gradually increasing in radius in the direction of rotation or from the trailing to the leading end thereof. At the leading end, the plates are 'sufii-- oiently spaced to receive a quantity of screws in an intermingled or disorderly condition, but the width of the track is adj usted to admit the shanks of the screws and'to retard the heads thereof. The screws collected between the plates eventually gravitate to the track in the position described and are finally delivered from the trailing end of the track to a fixed delivery track or chute by means of which they are directed to the power screw driver.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which-' Figure 1 is a vertical section .of the device, partly in section;

Fig.2 is a plan view thereof; and

Fig. ,3 is a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1.

Reference to these views will now be had by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In the several views is illustrated a hopper by the numeral 18 affects a timed machine. Preferably, the hopper has an ex-" 'ternal lug 3 attached to the member 2 by aivot pin 4 and has its bottom resting on a i all 5 resiliently supported in a stud 6 which in turn is adjustably mounted in the; frame of the machine as described in the parent application,

In the frame of the machine is journaled a shaft 7 lying preferably in a horizontal plane but at an angle to the bids of the hopper, for a purpose which will presently be described. The shaft carries a worm gear 8 meshing with a worm 9 driven in any suitable manner. 4

On the shaft is mounted a pickup device consisting essentiallyfof two similar plates 10 and 11 having hub members 12 fastened on the shaft by set screws 13. The plates are constructed, as will presently appear, to pick up a mass of screws in a disorderly condition at one end and to discharge them in an aligned and orderly condition at the other end.

At an external point with respect to the hopperis mounted a screw receivingmember 14 adapted to hold a screw in position to be engaged by a mechanically operated screw per. The discharge end of the pick-up de-' vice communicates at intervals with the lat ter end of the chute as will presently appear. An escapement device generally indicated delivery of the screws to the holder 14. i

As previously stated, the pick-up device is designed to receive screws at one end and deliver them from the other end to the receiving end 16' of the track 16. Consequently,

the plates must be of gradually diminishing.

radius from the leading end to the trailing end thereof. Due to this progressive radius, it is necessary "to provide that the receiving end 16?, after registeringwith the part having' substantially the radius, shall notbe; struck by a part having a greater radius. during the rotation of the device. Consequently, the outer edge of each plate should follow a curve that does not lie entirely in one plane, in order-that the receiving end characteristics of the curve must be developed in conformity with this data and the previously mentioned requirements.

To fulfill these requirements, the plates 10 and 11 are of gradually increasing radius from the shaft 7 as a center, approachinga maximum radius nearly equal to the minimum radiusof the hopper 1 from'the same center. The edge of each plate forms a spiral,

" in the sense that a spiral is a curve winding about a point while receding therefrom; but inasmuch as a spiral is generally understood to-lie in a single plane, the edges of the plates may be defined as non-planar spirals. Stated differently, the edge of each plate resembles a helix, except for the fact that a helix is generally generated on a cylinder, while in the present instance the curve is similarly generated on thesurface of a cone and may therefore be identified as a coniform' helix. The

terms used in describing the plates and the edges thereof hereinafter are to be construed in view of these definitions. The curve has a constant pitch angle and a varying linear pitch. 2

To the curved edges of the plates and at the inner faces thereof are secured rails 20 to define a track towards which the screws 21 in the hopper gravitate during the rotation of the pick-up device with the end of larger radius as the leading end. The plates are adjusted to receivethe shanks of the screws Y between the rai1s 20. At'the trailing end, the rails 20 may be continued beyond the ,7 plates tocomplete the curve through approx lmately 360, inasmuch as the screw-confining action of the plates is no longer necessary and prevent the heads thereof from passing at this point. From the end of the curve,-

the rails are extended in a straight line, as

indicated by the numeral 22, to align with 6d the track 16., This extension of the track lies at an acute angle to the shaft 7 in conformity with the constant pitch angle of the spiral,

in order to permit a smooth and 'unretard-' ed flow of screws from the curve to the rec.-

' tilinear extension 22. In mounting the device so that the extension 22 will align with the track 16 as in Fig. 2, it becomes necessary 'to-mount the shaft'7 at an angle'to the true 16 as also illustrated in Fig. 2. I

The plates 10 and 11 are preferably spaced farther apart at the leadin edges than at the trailing edges, as may e seen in Fig. 3, in order to facilitate entrance of the screws into the space between the plates. To, improve this action still further, a wing 23 is formed at the leading edge of the plate 10 i and directed angularly outwardly therefrom or away from the plate 11 as shown in v Fig. 3. The base edge 24 of the wing is preferably an arc havin the maximum radius of the plate 10. t is also preferred that the plates converge from the center towards the curved edges thereof to assist in the singling out of the screws as they approach the rails 20. i

The curved bottom 25 of the hopper 1 is of constant radius from the point A to the point of support B, this radius being slightly greater than the maximum radius of the plates 10 and 11 as already stated. From the point B to'the point C the radius of the bottom gradually increases.

Thus, the space between the bottom and the rails20,betweenthe points A and B, gradually increases .as the pick-up device advances, as a result of which thereis no crushing of the screws accumulating in this space. As the intake end of the device passes the point D, the pick-up is in close-proximity to the bottom and thus gathers a number of screws. As the device advances from the point D to the point G, the space between the device and the'bottom of the hopper increases, so that the device is not overloaded and screws are vention has been illustrated and described,

it will be apparent that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims,

What .I claim is I shaft and having their peripheries formed and spaced toproyide a slot of such width as to admit the shank'of a screw but arrest the head thereof, said plates being spaced at their respective leading edges and radially inward of said slot sufficiently to admit a 1.In a screw handling machine,'a maga I zine, a shaft rotatable in said magazine, a pair of non-planar plates mounted on said zine, a shaft rotatable in said magazine, a

pair of nonplanar plates mounted on said shaft and having their eripheriesformed and spaced to provide a s ot of such width as pair of non-planar plates.

to admit the shank of a screw but arrest'the head thereof, said plates being spacedat their respective. leading edges andradially inward of said slotsufiiciently to admit a quantity of screws in a disorderly condition, the inner faces of said plates converging towards said slot andscrew receivingfmeans with which the trailing'end of said slot is adapted to register.

zine, a shaft rotatable in said ounted on said shaft and having-their peripheries formed and spaced to provide'a slot of generally decreasing radius from the leading end to the trailing end thereof, said'platns being spaced at their respective leading edges and radially inward of said slot sufficiently to 'adwit a quantity of screws in a disorderly condition, and screw receiving means'with which the trailing end of said slot is adapted to register.

4. In a screw handllng mach1ne, a magazine, a shaft rotatable in said magazine, a

pair of non-planar plates mounted on said shaft and having their peripheries formed and spaced to provide a slot of-generally decreasing radius from the leading end to the trailingend thereof, the ends of said slot being spaced apart in a direction substantially parallel to said shaft, said plates being spaced at their respective leading edges and radially inward of safd slot sufiicientl to admit a quantity of screws in a disor erly condition, and screw receiving means with which the trailing end of said slot is adapted to register.

5. Ina screwhandling machine, a maga- 'zine, a-shaft rotatable in said magazine, a

' slot of such width as to admit the shank of a screw but-arrest the head thereof, said plates being spaced at their respective leadpair of non-planar plates longitudinally adustablevon said shaft and having their peripheries formed and spaced to provide a 1n .edgesIand radially inward of said slot su ciently to admit aquantityof screws in a disorderly condition, and screw receiving,

means with which the trailing end of said slot is adapted to register. 6. In a screw handlingmachine, amag'aand spaced to provide a slot of such width as to admit the shank of a screw but arrest the, head thereof, said plates being spaced at their respective leading edges and radially inward of said slot sufficiently to admit a quantity of screws in a disorderly condition, in combination with a fixed delivery track, the trailing end of said slot being adapted to communicate with said track.

7. A screw gathering instrumentality com f prising a sha t, a pair 'of non-planar plates mounted on said shaft andhaving their peripheries formed and spaced to provide a .slot of such width as to admit the shank of a screw but arrest the head thereof, said plates being spaced at their respective leadlng edges and radially inward of said slot suflieiently to admit a quantity of screws in a disorderly condition, and screw receiving slot is adapted to register.-

8. A screw athering instrumentality com prising a shaft, a pair of non-planar plates mounted on said shaft and having their peripheries formed a d spaced to provide a slot of such width as to admit the shank of a screw but arrest the head thereof, said plates being spaced at their respective lead: ing edges and radiallyinward of said slot sufficiently to admit a quantity of'screws in a. disorderly condition, the inner faces. of:

slot of generally decreasing radius from the leading end to the trailing end thereof, said plates being spaced at their respective leadmg edges and radially inward of said slot sufficiently to admit a quantity of screws in v means with which the trailing end of said 3. In a screw handling machine, a magamagazine, a

a disorderly condition, the inner faces of said plates converging towards .said slot, and screw receiving-means with which the trailing end of said slot is adapted to register.

10. A screw gathering instr'umentality comprising a shaft, a pair of non-planar plates mounted on said shaft and having their peripheries formed and spaced to provide a slot of generally decreasing radius from the leading end to the trailing end thereof, the

ends of said slot being spaced apart along said shaft, said plates bein spaced at their ner faces of said plates converging towards said slot, and screw receiving means with which the trailing end of said slot is adapted to register. s

11'. A- screw gathering. instrumentality comprising ,a' shaft, a pair of non-planar plates longitudinally adjustable on said shaft and having their peripheries formed and spaced to provide a slot of generally respective leading edges an radially inward of saidslot sufiiciently. to admit a'quantity -of screws in a disorderly condition, the into admit a quantity of screws in derly condition, and a track extending from "the other end of said slot in prolongation "decreasing'radius from the leading end to I p ates mounted on said shaft and having. their peripheries formed and spaced to provide a slot of such width as to admit the shank of a screw but arrest the head thereof, said slot following a' non-planar spir'al path, said plates being spaced at their re-' spective leading edges and radially inward of-saidslot sufiiciently to admit a quantityof screws in 'a disorderly condition, and screw receiving means with which the trailing end U of said slot is adapted to-register. 13. A screw gathering instrumentality shaft, a'pair of non-planar comprising a plates mounted on said shaft and having their peripheries formed and spaced to provide a slot of such width as to admit the shank of a screw but arrest the head thereof,

said slot following a non-planar spiral path,

I said plates being spaced at the ends of larger radius sufliciently to admit a quantity of screws in a disorderly condition. and a track t; extending from the other end of said slot in prolongation thereof and having a rectilinear free end portion, and screwreceiving means with which the trailing end of said slot is adapted to register.

14. A screw gathering instrumentality comprising a shaft, a pair of plates mounted on said shaft and having their peripheries formed and spaced to provide'a slot of such width as to admit the shank of a screw but arrest the head thereof, said slot following.

plates mounted on said adapted to register.

having a rectilinear free end portion, and a delivery-track with'which said extension is adapted to register.

16. A screw gathering instrumentality comprising a sha shaft and having their peripheries formed and spaced to provide a slot of such width as to admit the shank of a screw but arrest the head thereof, said vplates being spaced at their respective leading edges andradially inward of said slot sufliciently to admit a quantity of screws in a disorderly condition, and an outwardly directed wing at the leading edge of one of said plates, and screw receiving means with which the trailing. end of said slot is adapted to register.

17. A comprising a shaft, a pair of'non-planar plates mounted on said shaft and-having their peripheries-formed and spaced to proft,e.a pair of non-planar screw gathering instrumentality vide a slot of such width as to admit the I shank of ascrew but arrest the head thereofi said slot following a non-planar spiral path, said plates being spaced at their respective leading edges and radially linward of said slot sufiiciently to admit a quantity of screws 2 in a disorderly condition, in combination-with a curved hopper in which said plates are adapted to' r0tate,.said bottom having a portion of slightly greater radiusthan the maximum radius of said plates and concentric therewith, the remainder of said bottom being of gradually increasing radius from the first named portion and in the direction of rotation of said plates, and screw receiving means with which the trailing end- In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK 'H. DELLAREE.

a non-planar spiral path, said plates being spaced at'the ends of larger radius sufficienta disorthereof at the pitch angle of said slot and having a rectilinear free endportion, and screw receiving, means with which the trailing end of said slot is adapted to register.

' 65 end of said slot in prolongation thereof and of said slot is 

